The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-28
Chickens Coming Home to Roost.


1t is singular coincidence that just
at the moment the fanatics and knaves
in some of the Southern States, notably
Ohio and Kansas, were raising terrific
howl over the introduction of the anti
mixed-school-Glen bill in Georgia, the
very evil which the measure was de-
signed to cure, comes to plague the in
ventors in those States. 1t is known
that until recently law prohibiting
mixed schools was in force in Ohio.
Much sentimentality prevailed, and it
was repealed. And here is the way the
medicine is working:
CINCINNATI, Sept 21.-The operation
of the law of last winter which repealed
the statute authorizing the establish
ment of separate schools for colored
pupils Is producing friction in many
places. At Oxford, Ohio, the colored
pupils nearly all deserted their own
school and applied for admission to the
white school. A public meeting was
held, and the School Board was asked to
order the colored pupils to their own
school The Board complied with the
request, and the colored people propose
to apply for mandamus. At Yellow
Springs the School Board has ordered
the schools closed indefinitely, or until
the Legislature can meet and take some
action. AT Ripley, Ohio, suit in man
damus has been entered to compel the
School Board to admit colored pupils.
The fight RACES even more fercely in
Kansas, as viii be seen by the following
report from Fort Scott:
Fort SCOTT, Sept. 21.-This city is
excited over the problem of mixed
schools. This question had been a
source of disturbance at the opening of
every school term up to 1884, when
large new school house, containing four
rooms, was built exclusively for the
colored children, at the request of the
colored people themselves.
On the opening day last week delega-
tiOns of colored children, accompanied
by adult representatives, appeared in
considerable numbers at four of the
school houses and demanded admission.
school, in the eastern part of the city,
the colored children marched in fifty
strong and took possession of the room.
The white children Immediately with
drew and the teacher abandoned the
school for the day. The same thing
occurred the second day, but the teacher
gathered around him the few whites
who remained and heard their lessons,
absolutely refusing to instruct the
colored children, but permitting them
to remain upon condition that they did
not create any disturbance.
At the Wilson street school little
girl attended the first day. Her name
is Georgiana Reeves. She is so near
white that the principal did not know
she was of negro blood. Before the
next day, however, he was informed of
the fact, and she was accordingly ex-
cluded.
The colored people have resolved to
make a test of the Georgiana Reeves
case, and have carried it into the Dis
trict Court, petition and affidavit set
ting forth these facts.
The Board of Education, strongly
Republican as it is, will resist what they
consider the unreasonable demands Of
the blacks if there is any posi- BILE way
to do so.
Kansas was the spot where freedom
shrieked loudest in ante-bellum days,
and there old John Brown loves to
linger. We can't say that we rejoice
over the fanatics, but it is well that
they have learned something.